Hindu Temple Vandals Sought in Cary as NC Plans World-Record Murugan Shrine

Cary police are searching for five suspects caught on surveillance video at the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina temple, where the sacred Dvarapalaka guardian statue was damaged in the early hours of January 18, 2026. Investigators are calling on the public to come forward with tips as the case remains open weeks after the attack on one of the state's most prominent Hindu temples. The incident arrives as separate plans take shape for a 130-acre North Carolina site that would house the world's tallest Lord Murugan statue, a 155-foot monument that would exceed the height of the Statue of Liberty.

🪔 Dvarapalaka Statue Damaged at Sri Venkateswara Temple

The Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina temple in Cary was targeted by vandals in the early hours of January 18, 2026. Cary police opened an investigation after the incident came to light. Surveillance cameras at the Hindu temple had recorded at least five individuals on the property at approximately 3:00 a.m. The footage captured the group running toward a small sedan before the vehicle sped away from the temple grounds. Shortly after the suspects departed, the Dvarapalaka statue positioned at the entrance of the temple was discovered to have been damaged. The Dvarapalaka is a traditional guardian figure of deep religious significance in Hindu temple architecture and practice. Cary police are working to identify all five individuals captured in the surveillance footage and to establish the full circumstances surrounding the act of vandalism. Detectives have asked the public to assist with any relevant information about the suspects or the incident. Anyone with knowledge of the case is encouraged to contact Cary Crimestoppers at the number (919) 460-4636. The Crimestoppers program allows callers to provide information without being required to reveal their identity to investigators. [1]

🪔 Cary Police Seek Anonymous Tips as Temple Investigation Remains Open

Cary police confirmed to WRAL that their investigation into the vandalism at the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina temple remains ongoing. The incident occurred on Sunday, January 18, 2026, when surveillance cameras recorded five individuals at the temple at approximately 3:00 a.m. before the group departed in a small sedan. The Dvarapalaka statue at the front of the temple was found damaged after the suspects left the scene. Detectives are actively working to identify those shown on the surveillance footage and to determine the precise circumstances behind the damage. Cary police have emphasized that community assistance is essential to advancing the investigation. The department has provided two channels for public tips: residents can call Cary Crimestoppers at 919-460-4636 or use the anonymous online reporting tool at p3tips.com/1242. The online platform at p3tips.com gives community members the ability to submit information without making a phone call and without disclosing their identity. Police emphasized that all information, however small, may prove useful to investigators. The case remains active and detectives are continuing to pursue all available leads. [4]

🪔 World's Tallest Lord Murugan Statue Planned for North Carolina

North Carolina is set to become the site of a landmark Hindu religious complex centered on what is planned to be the world's tallest Lord Murugan statue, according to IndianEagle's TravelBeats diaspora platform. The statue is described as standing approximately 155 feet tall, a height that would exceed the Statue of Liberty in New York, making it a monument of exceptional scale for Hindu religious culture in the United States. The proposed complex would occupy approximately 130 acres in North Carolina and is envisioned as a major spiritual and cultural center for the Hindu community in the state and across the broader American South. Lord Murugan holds central importance in Tamil Hindu worship, and the scale of the proposed North Carolina complex reflects the growing ambitions of the Tamil and South Indian American diaspora communities in the region. IndianEagle's TravelBeats coverage highlighted the significance of the project for Indians living in North Carolina and for those considering travel to the site once completed. If built as described, the North Carolina complex would rank among the most ambitious Hindu religious construction projects undertaken in the United States and would draw visitors from across the country and from the global Tamil and Hindu diaspora. [6]

Sources: [1] ABC11 News · [4] WRAL · [6] IndianEagle